The proletariat Flashcards
Conditions in Leninist times and in Stalin’s early years
Lenin= harsh conditions which continued and actually got worse during Stalin’s early years with peasants being herded into collectives and with the urban labour force almost doubling in size by 1932
Industrialisation
This meant a 7 day week and longer working hours.
If you arrived late or were missing this could result in dismissal, eviction from housing and loss of benefits.
What were made criminal offences
- Damaging machinery
- leaving a job without permission
- strikes were illegal
1921 wage differentials
Introduced.
This meant better housing for some creating a more diverse proletariat.
Workers could choose where they worked plus disciplinary rules were eased.
What produced an elite proletariat
The Stakhanovite movement
Where did workers move after the 1931 wage differentials?
- More peasants moved to towns
- more urban workers became managers
- children had better educational opportunities
Which groups did the purges hit the hardest
Intellectuals
White-collar workers
- meaning there were more vacancies at the top
What did Stalin state in 1933
“life has become better, comrades.”
- the reality was different
What were living conditions in the rural and urban areas like
Grim.
In towns there was poor sanitation and water supplies.
Shops were empty and shortages endemic.
How did the 2nd 5 year plan effect wages
Wages increased.
However, they were still lower in 1937 than they had been in 1928.
Rationing
In 1935 rationing was phased out.
But pries were high so only those in important positions could buy goods more cheaply.
For the majority, living standards stagnated and may eve have dropped just before the war.
